Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini has received a strong endorsement from new athletic director Shawn Eichorst.

Eichorst said in an interview with The Associated Press that he admires how Pelini runs the program and believes Pelini is on track to end a conference-championship drought that dates back to 1999.

The Huskers were 10-4 this past season, finishing with a 39-point loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game and a 14-point loss to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl.

Eichorst said even though the season ended in disappointment, the Huskers are "not far away" from a Big Ten title. Eichorst called Pelini "an excellent coach, character-based, fundamentally sound." Eichorst said he's impressed with the discipline and academic achievement of the players.